Comparisons....I Know, it's Wrong

Comparing.
We all do it.
We compare ourselves to other women - women at church, the gym, the mall, the grocery store, the park, driving down the freeway. Everywhere.
We compare our homes to others in the neighborhood, our friends' houses, houses on TV.
We compare our children to other kids.
And this is where my crazy thoughts have taken me today.
Mya doesn't know what her toes are, and I feel horrible about it.
Lately I've been really struggling with comparing my kids to other kids. I compare Lo to kids in preschool, forgetting she's an entire year younger than most of them. I compare B to every other kid I encounter her age.
Lauren spoke exceptionally early. By Mya's age she was speaking full sentences - we had conversations, she could tell me exactly what she wanted in great detail. Mya grunts. She walks to the fridge or the pantry and grunts.
The comparing has gotten worse lately because I've watched a friend's little girl the same age as Mya and she says SO MANY WORDS!
Drink, please, thank you, shoes, picture.
She knows EVERY animal sound I can throw at her.
Today Mya told me a snake said "rarr", and last week tried to lick the tire on the truck.
I've really been beating myself up about this because it's my job to teach her where her toes are. It's my job that she knows what a snake says.
This has been bothering me for a few weeks now.
And then I realized that it doesn't matter.
Does this mean that she isn't smart? Does it mean that she's stupid?
Of course not!
And at the end of the day, do I honestly care if anyone thinks my small toddler is stupid? No. Because I know she isn't.
And she probably just doesn't care.
It's not like she'll never know what a snake says, and it's not like she'll never know where her toes are. And let's pray she doesn't continue to want to know what a tire tastes like.
There is no child like Mya.
This kid has caused me more heartburn and tears than I'd like to admit, but I wouldn't trade her for the world. She's sassy, determined, independent, stubborn, and - on occasion - the sweetest thing you've ever seen.
She only gives loves when she really, really wants to. And consider yourself special if you get a kiss - those are not handed out to just anyone.
There is a big, special place in my heart for this kid, and I firmly believe that there's a really, really, really good reason she is part of our family. And I'm hoping that stubborn streak is going to come in very handy when it comes to peer pressure someday. Her determination and independence are going to get her far in life. I can pretty much guarantee she'll never take crap from anyone.
And this post has gone on far too long, and I can't think of a good way to wrap this thing up, so have a nice one.
Mya rocks (when she's not licking tires)!